Pakistan at 76

Pakistan has not only completed 76 years of its existence but has also celebrated half a century of the implementation of its constitution that was consensually agreed upon by all shades of political diversity the country is known for.

Significantly, the constitution was written by politicians without any interference by the ubiquitous military establishment that held sway over the country for almost a decade and a half and conceded political power after the collapse of longstanding military regime of Ayub Khan due to intense public protestation and the tragic dismemberment of Pakistan owing to short-sighted and self-serving policies of the succeeding military dictatorship.

The military domination of the country’s governance was in direct contravention of the exhortation of the founder of the nation to the army brass in 1948 that it should always keep in mind that executive authority flows from the head of the government and therefore, any command or orders that may come to cannot come without the sanction of the executive head.
Intriguingly, the British rule end of which witnessed the creation of Pakistan was a civilian rule throughout its long duration with the British Indian army also placed under it. Moreover, Pakistan came into being through democratic means and this point was emphasised by the Quaid-e-Azam by stating that the right to change dispensations and their policies rests with the electorate. Despite such clear guidelines, the democratic civilian rule was repeatedly uprooted by the military. Actually, the dominance of military perception in the country could be dated back from 1951 when the first indigenous army officer became the head of the army when he was not even 50 years old but also had inadequate army service with no distinction to his name despite being exposed to the Second World War. Earlier in his tenure he started parleying with the US military above the heads of civilian leaders of the government of the day. Resultantly he remained a dominant force in the country from 1951 to 1969 and during his 18 years completely upended the governance pattern and catapulted the military as a cogent political force that started to think that they are crucial for the governance of the country.

The parallel role the military insisted on playing in Pakistan was directly opposite to democratic governance principles of inclusiveness, impartial governance, rule of law, religious liberty and social equality eventually giving way to the free-for-all exercise of state authority witnessed currently. The legacy bequeathed to the country emphasised an egalitarian, prosperous welfare state thriving in harmony and justice with absolute civil supremacy but what emerged was a narrow practice of self-centred rule in which institutional control gradually was obtained by the military establishment. Pitiably, Pakistani nation has wounded itself consciously knowing fully well the perils of arbitrary rule imposed through utilising coercive force of the state. The state, in return, devised narratives that enhanced the power of the military and its proxies that belonged mostly to the clerical class that wants its own piece of cake.

The combination of militaristic mindset and the orientation of the proxies emboldened them to consistently infringe upon the constitution reducing it virtually to a skeleton of its former robust shape and has been incessantly flouted at will. The outcome of almost continual military interference has not only pushed back the political process but has also overawed the democratic political elements that find no way out but to collude with the military establishment and do its bidding to stay in the political field. The only means to play their legitimate political role they have to bow before the arbitrary forces and any deviation there from spells their doom as has happened multiple times. After countering resistance from the resilient civilian political elements and under intense pressure from international community the military is constrained to usurp power and rule directly after the fall of Pervez Musharraf. However, it has not refrained from installing and supporting chosen governments as became evident since 2018.

Over the long period of more than six decades the military has become adept at sustaining its institutional control of the state through measures fair or unfair. Despite suffering serious setbacks, it is not prepared to concede to the people their right of unadulterated democratic rule in which their choices are honoured and their elected representatives allowed to formulate and implement policies aimed at their welfare.

Though it is conceded that there is no quick way to get out of this quagmire yet the beginning to restore civilian democratic governance is to be made at the earliest and in earnest. The usurpation of state power by non-political forces has already caused an existential crisis in the country that has become bereft of the rule of law. Unless this aim is achieved Pakistan will remain far away from the ideals cherished by a nation-state.

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